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Original poster

Flamingo Land suitable for a baby?!

184 replies

sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 18:32

Please help me settle this disagreement with my OH. We have 3 older kids between us (his two aged 14 & 11, mine aged 15), and a baby together. He wants all 5 of us to go on a family day out to Flamingo Land. I've never been. He's insisting it's suitable for all the kids including the 4 month old baby? To me it looks just like a theme park - I can't think of anything I'd rather do less with a baby tbh. He thinks we'll all have a lovely family day out. I don't - I think he should just take his eldest two (and my eldest if she wants to go) and I'll stay home with baby. He thinks I'm being miserable and unreasonable. Help?!

OP posts:
Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 20:48

@lazyarse123

Op has said multiple times she would be happy to stay at home with the baby while dh takes the older kids. So can we stop with the "babies don't need entertaining" posts.

Thank you! I just don't understand why I need to be dragged along to something I won't be joining in with because it's not my thing, and paying £40 for the privilege, when I could just look after the baby at home instead. I'll be the one doing all the looking after at the theme park, so no difference really...

OP posts:
Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 20:49

this is one of the weirdest threads I’ve read on here, so everyone stay home and not do anything till the baby is old enough to join in

Yep, cos that's exactly what I said in my OP. 🙄

OP posts:
IHaveBrilloHair · 04/08/2021 20:49

I wouldn't go with a baby in those circumstances.
It'll just be a pita when the baby needs feeding or changing, or starts squealing or whatever just as the teens are ex ited about x or y.
You stay home and do something less stressful.

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 20:50

@DelphiniumTea

A voice in the wilderness OP. I don't think you're being at all unreasonable. I don't like rides either and wouldn't be paying 40 quid to look after my baby all day. I'd rather have a nice quiet day at home and let the others go and enjoy themselves. Too often I've been pressured to do things I really didn't want to. I've now learned to be firm.

This is what I mean - I'll just happily stay home. Not sure why it bothers DH so much

OP posts:
Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 20:51

@IHaveBrilloHair

I wouldn't go with a baby in those circumstances. It'll just be a pita when the baby needs feeding or changing, or starts squealing or whatever just as the teens are ex ited about x or y. You stay home and do something less stressful.

Exactly. I can't imagine changing facilities are easily accessible and dotted about in a place like that? Or are they? I wouldn't know, never been.

OP posts:
Puffinhead · 04/08/2021 20:51

I agree with you OP. I loathe theme parks so I would’ve happily let my DH take the kids and also save myself £40. If he wants a family day then it should be something that you all want to do too. Let him go on his own with the older kids.

Cupoftea53 · 04/08/2021 20:53

Why couldn’t you enjoy it though? The zoo is lovely, go for a walk, sit under a tree and drink a coffee and read a book while the baby sleeps. Just like going to the local park which is what you would do if you were at home. Its really not what I would call a theme park either. Not like chessington or thorpe park. It’s more like a zoo / park and cafe and a few rides. The rides part wasn’t the main draw for us.

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 20:53

I honestly think it's coming from a good place, he just wants us all to be together as a family for the day as it doesn't happen often with our older kids having other homes too and their mates etc etc. I get that. But then why can't it be something all of us would enjoy?

OP posts:
Cupoftea53 · 04/08/2021 20:54

Things are not far apart at all and it was full of tiny kids. To be honest, if your older teens are thrill seekers they may well be disappointed.

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 20:54

@Cupoftea53

Why couldn’t you enjoy it though? The zoo is lovely, go for a walk, sit under a tree and drink a coffee and read a book while the baby sleeps. Just like going to the local park which is what you would do if you were at home. Its really not what I would call a theme park either. Not like chessington or thorpe park. It’s more like a zoo / park and cafe and a few rides. The rides part wasn’t the main draw for us.

Ah well this actually makes it sound really nice....

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 04/08/2021 20:56

@Cupoftea53

Why couldn’t you enjoy it though? The zoo is lovely, go for a walk, sit under a tree and drink a coffee and read a book while the baby sleeps. Just like going to the local park which is what you would do if you were at home. Its really not what I would call a theme park either. Not like chessington or thorpe park. It’s more like a zoo / park and cafe and a few rides. The rides part wasn’t the main draw for us.
Except this costs 40 quid for fairly boring things you could do for free.
Cupoftea53 · 04/08/2021 20:57

I think the animals were worth seeing. And the kids liked the playgrounds.

PumpkinKlNG · 04/08/2021 20:58

I think there's a difference between a 4 month old and 1 year old?

Did you read the rest he stayed asleep the whole time in the pram, which is what your baby will do? If they cry you pick them up like you would do anything? He didn’t go on a single ride ( I wouldn’t put a one year old on a ride personally)

PumpkinKlNG · 04/08/2021 20:59

Exactly you could sit on a bench and drink a coffee, read a book, play on your phone, do what you would do anywhere? You do sound overly anxious about it. If the baby wakes then read them or look around etc

Cupoftea53 · 04/08/2021 20:59

Its a proper zoo - kangaroos, zebras, rhinos etc, not just farm animals.You can get into a ‘why would you pay for it’ frame of mind about anything if you are determined to. I think sometimes you have to go along for the sake of the kids!

shouldistop · 04/08/2021 21:00

I wouldn't go with a baby in those circumstances.
It'll just be a pita when the baby needs feeding or changing, or starts squealing or whatever just as the teens are ex ited about x or y.
You stay home and do something less stressful

I don't get why changing or feeding a baby is a pita. Change in the pram or on a bench, sit on a bench or on the ground to feed.

daisydaisy7 · 04/08/2021 21:01

I have a 3.5 month old and probably wouldn't want to spend all day in the middle of summer in a theme park even if I had teens.

They're going to be queuing/on rides all day so what are you expected to do? Just stand by each ride and wait for them? Surely you'd just be slowing them down getting around the park? (No offence but I know how frequently you have to stop to settle, feed, change babies etc). Your baby will be hot and aggy. You'll be bored to tears.

I'd suggest again DH take the older kids and you have a peaceful day with your baby, go for lunch or something.

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 21:01

@PumpkinKlNG

Exactly you could sit on a bench and drink a coffee, read a book, play on your phone, do what you would do anywhere? You do sound overly anxious about it. If the baby wakes then read them or look around etc

I am anxious when it comes to the baby, and I did say that further back.

OP posts:
UrAWizHarry · 04/08/2021 21:03

@PumpkinKlNG

Exactly you could sit on a bench and drink a coffee, read a book, play on your phone, do what you would do anywhere? You do sound overly anxious about it. If the baby wakes then read them or look around etc
The difference being that usually you don't have to pay £40 for the privilege of all that.
shouldistop · 04/08/2021 21:03

It might help with the anxiety to get out and aboutThanks

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 21:04

@PumpkinKlNG

I think there's a difference between a 4 month old and 1 year old?

Did you read the rest he stayed asleep the whole time in the pram, which is what your baby will do? If they cry you pick them up like you would do anything? He didn’t go on a single ride ( I wouldn’t put a one year old on a ride personally)

She isn't going to just sleep the whole time. We'll presumably be there for most of the day. She will need feeds/changes/ rocking to sleep etc... all the usual.

OP posts:
ToykotoLosAngeles · 04/08/2021 21:04

@lazyarse123

Op has said multiple times she would be happy to stay at home with the baby while dh takes the older kids. So can we stop with the "babies don't need entertaining" posts.
Clearly these posts are responding to:

"I didn't think there'd be anything to entertain a baby with at a theme park that's all."

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 21:04

@shouldistop

It might help with the anxiety to get out and aboutThanks

That's true.

OP posts:
Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 21:06

@ToykotoLosAngeles

When I talk about something to entertain her I actually think I mean a focus so that I feel less anxious myself, iyswim. At a baby group, if she cries it's ok as other babies are crying too. I'd just feel anxious to deal with it alone in such a busy place I think.

OP posts:
Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 21:10

@Cupoftea53

Things are not far apart at all and it was full of tiny kids. To be honest, if your older teens are thrill seekers they may well be disappointed.

DH is the biggest thrill seeker tbh! So he can disappoint himself can't he Grin

OP posts: